NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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N R C – F R O M D I S C O V E R Y T O I N N O V A T I O N...Combating the threat of bioterrorismFollowing a global competition, the U.S. NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $2 milliongrant to a team from NRC for research to supportthe overall effort to combat bioterrorism. Thefunding will be used to develop a vaccine against ahighly virulent bacterium recognized as a potentialbiological warfare agent. NRC’s success was due inlarge part to its patented novel vaccine deliverysystem and its demonstrated expertise, facilities,and equipment for cutting-edge vaccine research.12New technique to evaluate spinalcord injury and functionNRC-IBD has developed a non-invasive functionalmagnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique thatcan be used to assess spinal cord function andevaluate spinal cord injuries or changes that resultfrom disease and treatment. Researchers canrecord fMRI images to “see” changes in the distributionof oxygenated blood that tell them how thespinal cord is functioning. There are now some35,000 Canadians living with spinal cord injuries.Algal bloom monitoring systemResearchers at the NRC Institute for MarineBiosciences (NRC-IMB) are developing an opticalsensing system to detect harmful algal blooms andmonitor coastal zones to improve coastal management.A Canadian company, Satlantic, is workingwith NRC to develop the system for sales in France,Ireland, the United States and South Africa.Better canola – better marketsScientists at the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute(NRC-PBI) have developed canola seed with far lessanti-nutritional substances – sinapine and the seedphosphorus storage compound, phytate. Thisimportant scientific advancement will be commercializedthrough conventional breeding andselection of superior cultivars. Dow AgroScienceswill use the research as the basis for breedingimproved canola cultivars, a superior product thatwill provide the company with an importantcompetitive advantage.Decontaminating explosive soilsResearchers at the NRC Biotechnology ResearchInstitute (NRC-BRI) have developed soil qualityguidelines for TNT-contaminated soils. These toolswill help environmental risk assessors andmanagers of sites contaminated with explosives todetermine “how clean is clean.” The work, carriedout in collaboration with the Defence ResearchEstablishment in Valcartier and governmentagencies from the United States, the UnitedKingdom and Australia, will facilitate the managementof munitions-contaminated sites, such asmilitary training areas as well as production anddisposal sites.
Protein folding – better understandingof diseasesMolecular biologists from the NRC-BRI, working incollaboration with McGill University, have moved astep closer to understanding exactly how proteinsare folded and how a particular molecular machine,known as the calnexin cycle, actually “chaperones”the activity. This finding has important implicationsfor diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, hereditaryemphysema and other genetic diseases. Decodingthe structure of calnexin, a key protein involved inprotein folding and quality control, is the culminationof a ten-year research effort by the team.Advances in engineering and constructionD i s c o v e r yNRC’s R&D in engineering and constructionfocuses on the needs of Canada’s aerospace,construction and ocean engineering communities –key sectors for Canada’s economic growth andprosperity.NRC’s aerospace R&DThe aerospace industry remains one of the majorindustrial success stories for Canada. The manufacturingcomponent of the industry currently standsin third place in the world in terms of sales. Canadais a world market leader in regional and businessaircraft, commercial helicopters, gas turbineengines, landing gear, flight simulators, and aircraftguidance and control systems. The NRC Institutefor Aerospace Research (NRC-IAR) has served thisvital industry sector for over 50 years with leadingedgeresearch and development services.Safer landing gear coatingsFrom stainless steel cutlery to prosthetic hip andknee replacements, chromium has become a partof our daily lives. In its solid form, chromium isharmless. But hexavalent chromium – a formassociated with the electroplating process thatproduces the hard coating protecting aircraftlanding gear components from corrosion andwear – is carcinogenic and can cause a host ofhealth problems. The best alternative technologyto chromium is a deposition of a cermet (ceramic/metal composite) coating that is better for theenvironment and offers potential costand time savings. Working in partnershipwith Orenda AerospaceCorporation, Vac-Aero International,the Department of National Defenceand NRC-IMI, NRC-IAR is evaluatingnew cermet coatings to develop thecoating process, processing conditionsand product quality.13S C I E N C E A T W O R K F O R C A N A D A
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NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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